Deconstructing Greg Knapp's Offense: Seattle drives 70 yards against Denver

by John Morgan on Sep 8, 2009 12:49 PM PDT Comment 8 comments

This week begin the end of the preseason. I would like to go out in style. I've left a lot of loose ends. I want to preview Greg Knapp's offense and specifically his play calling. I want to explore how Seattle's first week starters work within that offense and where they are and where they are strong. I want to give the same treatment for Jim Mora, Gus Bradley and Dan Quinn's defense. Quinn's name will be thrown around a lot in the next four to five months, so remember him. He looks like a star in the making.

Without further prelude, let's explore Seattle's opening drive against Denver. Seattle moved seventy yards on eight offensive plays, scoring the touchdown with 34 yard pass to Deon Butler. The goal of the following exercise is to connect the first play, an incompletion, to the final play, a touchdown pass. I've replaced T.J. Duckett with Edgerrin James.

1-10-SEA 30 (14:54) (Shotgun) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete deep right to 84-T.Houshmandzadeh.

This play is designed to create matchup problems and promote yards after catch.

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Tight ends John Carlson and John Owens are split wide. Wide receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deon Butler are playing the slot. It's a symmetrical formation. The left is on the line. The right is just off the line.

Matt Hasselbeck takes a three step drop and sails a pass over Houshmandzadeh's head. The defense, and specifically, Andre Davis' delay blitz do not factor. The pass is a mistake caused by inaccuracy or a confused route. Carlson and Owens draw deep cover. Butler and Housh attempt to attack the exposed middle. Houshmandzadeh's cut is flawless. Butler's has a little wind up that telegraphs a cut, but not a cut where. Housh is cutting while Butler is still stopping his momentum.

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Essential Details: The featured receivers are in the slot.

It is symmetrical.

Matt takes a three step drop out of shotgun.

James is a designated blocker, creating a six-man pocket.

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Comments

TEs split wide

isn’t a traditional component of the “run, run, pass, punt” approach, is it? The sterotypes of Knapp have been oversimplified.

by jacobstevens on Sep 8, 2009 1:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Creativity? Ingenuity?

Exactly what I was calling for the last season or two under Holmgren. Bye bye: mainstay third-and-long draw and bread and butter vanilla slants. Hello dual tight ends split wide. Exciting!

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, QB Jevan Snead, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer

by Misfit74 on Sep 8, 2009 1:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Holmgren ran his TE and RB out wide frequently

But I wouldn’t dismiss the Knapp stereotype just yet – this is still preseason.

by Groundhog on Sep 8, 2009 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Frequently?

A few times a season; I dunno about frequently, but you might be right, I might have just overlooked it.

But whatever descriptions of Holmgren’s tendencies, and their accuracies, and any comparisons between the two guys, I think we can safely say the stereotype was oversimplified. The emphasis on running and balance makes a lot of people assume that means no creativity or aggressiveness in the passing attack, as though that’s a necessary dynamic of being run-heavy. Not so.

by jacobstevens on Sep 8, 2009 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed on the stereotyping.

From 2006-2007, Holmgren implemented the backfield-to-wideout much more. Often more than 3 times a game. It made sense when MoMo began getting more playing time, and when the running game as a whole faltered.

It’s not very obvious unless you’re at the game. Granted, people tend not to notice anyway when the RB shifts to the sideline and the play is a FB Draw…;-P

I never saw a two TE split from him, however.

by Groundhog on Sep 8, 2009 8:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs